Updated April 19, 2023
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Introduction to Job Interview Preparation
The following article provides an outline for Job Interview Preparation. An interview is a crucial process for every company that needs to hire employees. It is an interactive process where parties connect with each other’s personalities. It is a two-way communication process where the employer asks questions from the candidate, not necessarily to get an answer but to judge their decisive power, speaking skills, personality, and attitude. Other traits like ‘body language’ speak a lot-even when the candidate tries to hide some of his habits in order to get selected. Hence it becomes crucial for the candidate not to hide these traits and habits but to reshape and transform their personality and attitude in a positive way. Similarly, the interviewer tries to connect with his interviewer positively and ask relevant questions about work.
Before hiring, employers use interviews to evaluate a candidate’s qualifications, skills, experiences, and personality. With intense job competition, interviewees must thoroughly prepare their appearance, speaking skills, attitude, and personality to increase their chances of being selected for their desired position.
It is not easy for everyone to crack their dream job interviews easily. Sometimes even the most proficient people are rejected due to one reason or the other. This failure may reduce your confidence and positivity. You may feel incapable of achieving what you want. In this case, you must work on your weaknesses and build them strong instead of criticizing yourself.
Essential Tips for Job Interview Preparation
Below are the essential tips for Job Interview Preparation:
1. Do thorough research about the company’s goals and missions
Do in depths research about the company using the internet. When you are going for an interview, knowing about the company and its missions is necessary. Get thorough information about the company, its mission statement, goals, annual report, published articles, blogs, challenges, products, and services, etc., through its website. Knowing about the company before attending an interview is necessary because you never know when the employer will ask you some questions related to their company. You may not be able to speak proficiently about it, and the interviewer may judge you as an uninterested person. It also helps you form some questions beforehand, which you may ask your employer during the interview.
2. Organize your dress and footwear beforehand
Decide on a simple and formal dress to be worn during the interview. For men, wearing a light-colored shirt and a dark-colored suit, shoes, and tie is advised. Girls should wear a simple knee-length skirt suit with formal shoes. Avoid wearing heavy makeup. Use nude shades of makeup and nude lipstick. Don’t wear perfume, as it may deflect the interviewer’s attention. Flashy clothes, bright colors, jewelry, and accessories should be avoided as it does not reflect professionalism. Arrange your clothes and shoes at night so as to save time in the morning and avoid any haste. Iron your clothes efficiently and ensure they are lint and wrinkle-free. Cut your nails cleanly, and girls may use a light shade of nail paint on nails.
3. Prepare your conversation skills
Practice how you will answer questions and speak with your interviewer in front of the mirror or with a friend. See in the mirror whether you find your voice, accent, hand actions, and expressions appropriate. You can also record your voice and check for any faults in your spoken skills. While practicing with a friend, tell them to ask you unexpected questions during the interview, just like an interviewer. After the job interview preparation tips practice, take feedback from your friend, ask about your flaws and qualities, and work on your flaws accordingly.
4. Work on your stammering
If you have a habit of stumbling and stammering, it is essential to work on them beforehand. Prepare your vocal skills and practice ‘speaking in a flow’ regularly. You can also take personality development classes if self-practice is not benefiting you. Remember, the tone, deepness, accent, and attitude of voice have a big role to play during an interview. Hence, preparing for it is necessary if you think you are a beginner in speaking skills.
5. Work on your body language
Remember, your actions speak a lot about your personality. Learn body language etiquette, like how to walk, sit, and move hands during an interview. Always receive your interviewer with a firm handshake and a smile. Sit straight, and keep your chest broadened and feet planted to the ground. Nod your head while listening but make sure not to do it excessively. Use your hand movements while explaining anything. Avoid sitting like a dummy, as it reflects your nervousness. Always make eye contact with the interviewer, reflecting your confidence. Ensure you don’t get too frank or serious during the interview. Don’t move your arms and legs too much during the interview. Avoid repeatedly tacking your hair at the back of the ear, rubbing your nose, etc. Ensure that you leave the room in the same way you entered-say. Thank you, shake hands with your interviewer, gather your documents peacefully, and leave at a moderate speed.
6. Learn new skills and attend workshops
Be aware of the competition that is prevailing in the market. In this competitive era, it is crucial that you possess something that others don’t. Polish yourself, your personality, speaking skills, academic qualifications, and job skills. Attend various workshops on personality development, soft skills, cracking interviews, etc. Pursue courses that are popular nowadays, like courses related to information technology and language courses. These things will enhance your experience, skills, and chances of getting selected for the job.
7. Spend time reorganizing your CV and important documents
Reorganize your CV according to the job profile. Avoid including achievements that are too old. For example- don’t include certificates of class 10th-12th co-curricular activities unless necessary. Ensure you have the certification of every experience, skill, or talent you pen down on your CV. Arrange them appropriately in the file. It would be nice if you carried some extra copies of your CV, as it will help if there is a need for an extra one. Don’t forget to carry relevant and important documents. Enlist all the references proficiently with the name, designation, contact number, address, email, and other important details.
8. Ask for important details of the interview from your caller
When you get a call for the interview, remember to show your enthusiasm regarding the opportunity. Talk with your interviewer in a positive tone with full confidence. Pen down all the important details like the name, title, and department of the person you are meeting with; the date and time of the interview; transportation available to the place, etc. Ask if there is anything the interviewer wants you to bring to the meeting. Thank the caller for closing and confirming the date and time of the interview.
9. Prepare to answer the questions of your interviewer
Don’t just go to an interview without preparing a strategy to explain and showcase your strengths and abilities in front of your interviewer. Remember, you cannot impress your interviewer with random thoughts. Stories are easy to retain by the brain and interactive too. Prepare a story that covers all your abilities and skills. Job interview preparation practice answering those questions which are most frequently asked during an interview, for example-what, what are your strengths and weaknesses, how can you prove to be an asset for the company, what are your expectations from the company, etc. Show your interviewer your passion and commitment towards the job and convince them about your dedication.
It is important to explain your abilities and skills confidently, but don’t do it to an extreme. Avoid boasting about your skills and displaying your arrogance.
10. Develop questions to ask your interviewer
Prepare some questions that you’ll ask your interviewer. If you don’t ask questions, it may reflect that you are confused or uninterested in knowing about your job. Ask job interview preparation tips questions like what you will learn from your job, what are the company’s expectations from you, and what are the company’s mission and future goals. Don’t fear to ask questions from your interviewer. An interview is just an interactive session between the interviewer and interviewee; hence, ask whatever you think is crucial.
Other Important Things
Below are the other important things to do before the job Interview Preparation:
1. Search for the proper location of the company
While it is necessary to search for the company and your job profile thoroughly, it is also essential to note the location and modes of transport before the interview day. Search for the location on Google Maps and search for all the modes of transport available. Select the most appropriate means of commuting. Keep a note of all the landmarks, and ensure that you leave your home 30 minutes before the interview so as to manage any time lag in reaching the venue.
2. Alter your social media accounts
Nowadays, many companies also consider employees’ social networking profiles, especially for positions like social media marketing. Clear any obscene or inappropriate comments, pictures, blogs, or videos that your employer or other superiors may not like.
3. Improve your general knowledge
Go through the current affairs and general news and articles trending presently. Your interviewer may ask you something regarding present issues, news, etc., to know how active you are reading these issues. Also, if you are applying for a financial position, you must be aware of the current financial issues.
4. Have the right attitude
One should enhance the right attitude in their personality. Remember, sometimes your attitude only makes you stand unique from the pool of candidates. There are some cases when the interviewer gets impressed with the attitude of the candidate and selects him/her only on the basis of it. Sometimes the candidate may be rejected only because of the wrong attitude.
5. Keep your body healthy and take proper rest
Sleep properly at night before the interview day to wake up fresh and full of energy and enthusiasm. Have a nutritious breakfast in the morning, which makes you attentive and energized. Never skip breakfast on the interview day, as it will hamper your performance. Try exercising a little before leaving your home, as it increases the blood flow and boosts your ability to perform.
6. Be positive
Have positive thinking. Don’t stress yourself unnecessarily. Negative thoughts affect the brain’s confidence and strength. Hence be confident about whatever you do, whatever you say, and whatever result in you get. Remember, every failure of yours teach you something new. Some interview preparation tips Learn from the mistakes committed during the interview and work harder on them for the next time. Remember that an interview is not a huge problem but only part of the selection process. Worrying unnecessarily about it will only hamper your performance and reduce your confidence.
These changes do not come at once but require some time and a lot of attention. It is not only that you need to impress your worker during the interview but also in the later stages (after getting selected). Even if you clear the interview, there may be chances that you may be fired just because ‘you displayed what you weren’t’. Hence don’t perform temporary changes in your personality, but something that remains with you forever and influences people around you.
Recommended Articles
This is a guide to Job Interview Preparation. Here we discuss the introduction and essential tips for job interview preparation. You may also look at the following articles to learn more –
